When interviewing members from city governments across different college towns, it was clear that there were differences in how students interact with city government, and the way in which city councils function. But one overarching shared problem across the towns was on housing crises.

Jesse Arreguin, recent Cal grad and Jason Overman, fifth year who ran for city council in 2006, both expressed that as members of the Rent Stabilization Board, they are able to work with both student and non-student residents over the need for affordable housing.

“Rents are very high, not enough student housing, co-op housing and affordable housing is an issue for the broader community,” Arreguin said.

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In light of the national controversy over the Marine recruiting center, the Daily Show with Jon Stewart followed suit by shooting a comedic episode March 10 centered on the controversy. The episode featured shots of the campus, members of Code Pink outside of the recruiting station in downtown Berkeley and an interview between The Daily Show’s correspondent Rob Riggle and Peace and Justice Commission chair Bob Meola.

Meola said he doesn’t watch the show regularly but knew of its comedic purpose and appeal.

“I understood it was a comedy show, and I knew they’d make me a fool,” he said.

The show’s producers had contacted the city of Berkeley and from there, contacted the Peace and Justice Commission. Meola was going to be in New York at the time, so the producers decided to do his segment of the episode before heading to film in Berkeley and the campus.

Meola said his appearance may have been why Riggle decided to dress in costume as a hippie. However, he didn’t know that Riggle was a former Marine.

“They had seen what I looked like and were trying to make an archetypal, anachronistic mid-60’s hippie,” he said.

“We went over so much material, I was disappointed there wasn’t a few things I said I wished had been part of the story,” Meola said. “The level of stupidity was poorly slanted, (and) they could have allowed a more complete thought of opinion.”

The episode is located here.

The vote by City Councilmember Kriss Worthington to send an apology to the Marine Corps Feb. 12 surprised Berkeley residents because of its unusually moderate stance.

After several hours of public comment from anti-military and pro-military sides, the Berkeley City Council’s 7-2 vote  clarified their support and respect for military service members but did not include an apology to be sent to the Marine Corps.

Pro-military protesters called for an apology in regards to a letter that was passed Jan. 29 which described the recruiters as “uninvited and unwelcome intruders.” This language elicited nationwide response as council members received more than 20,000 e-mails and phone calls in the last two weeks.

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